Henry siirimpton



(No Model.)

H. SHRIM-PTON.

GAL/1E.`

No. 432,287. PatentedJuly 15, 1890. y lgl.

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` UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 432,287, dated July 15, 1890.

Application tiled August 17, 1889. Serial No. 321,146. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SHRIMPTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improve- 'ments in Games, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use, conjointly or otherwise, will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, Figure l is a top view of a board representing a ball-field, the board being constructed and being marked with spaces and lines and provided with up rising edge, pockets, and a mechanism for throwing and batting the ball, all in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section, taken at the dotted line a: :t of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the device for throwing the ball and a front end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 shows a side and an edge view of the handle for setting the ball-pitching device and for unlocking the same, and the connection of the `same to the draft-rod for straining the spring of the pitching device. This figure also shows a front or rear elevation of the plate wherewith the handle aforementioned engages when the pitching device is set. Fig. 5 shows a side and a top elevation of the bat and of the screw connecting' the bat to the ball-field. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the ball. Fig. 7 is a view of one of the preferred description of -little figures employed upon the ball-field in the playing of the game.

In actual use all portions of the mechanism will preferably be on a larger scale than shown in the drawings.

The ball-field is made of any suitable material. It is preferably made of wood. It consists of a broad flat basal sheet or tloorA of suitable material. At its edge is a strip F of material either integral with it or rigidly attached to it. This strip projects above the upper surface of the sheet A and surrounds the eld.

The strip F represents a fence, and the primary purpose of its presence is to furnish a detlecting-surface for the ball to strike against when the latter reaches the edge of the field.

P indicates the position where the pitcher is located, and at his side is the mechanism for holding and throwing the ball.

The ball-pitching device is located at the pitchers stand P, and consists as follows: The throwing-lever M is provided at its top witha cup or basket for holding the ball.

'This ball-holder may be formed in various ways. The preferred mode of its construction consists in bending a wire to the shape shown in the drawings, and attaching this wire to the shank of the lever M, thereby presenting two wires or rods m parallel to lone another and horizontal when the length of the lever is vertical, as shown in Fig. 8, and also presenting two wires or rods m2, respectively extending from the respective rods m', and when the lever is vertical, as in Fig. 3, extending vertically and joined together at the top by an arch of wire m20. `Thus an open basket or cup is formed for the reception of the ball H. The lever M is pivotally fulcrumed at m3 to a support m, the pivot being preferably a simple screw-bolt m3. To the lower end of the lever M is attached the spring m7, strained between the lever and a post or connection m3 at the rear of the lever. This post has on its lower end a hook m21, for retaining the spring in position thereon. To the lower end of the lever M is also attached the rod m13, extending from the lever toward the front edge of the board. A convenient mode of pivotally connecting. this spring m7 and rod m13 to lever M is shown, and consists in forming the lower end of the lever in the shape of a split eye, one hooked limb m5 of which holds the end of the spring m7, and the other hooked limb m4 thereof holds the end of rod m13.

A convenient means for supporting the support m, to which the lever is pivoted, and the post ons, to which the rear end of the spring m7 is connected, is the broad flat plate m9, suitably secured, as by screws m10, to the upper surface of the base A, and sunk therein, so that its upper surface shall be in the same plane with the upper surface of the basal su pport. To the lower surface of this plate are IOO fixed the support m6 and post ms. A slot m7 in this plate on allows the lever M to be moved forward and backward as far as necessary for its successful operation, as hereinafter specified. From the post m3 up to the front edge portion extends a groove or channel m1i in the floor A. This groove or channel preferably does not extend through the upper surface of the floor A, but lies therein below the surface, concealed from view and out of the way. Near the front edge of the floor A the rod on terminates in an eye or hook, engaging at m22 a similar eye or hook at the inner end of the, pull-handle m17. The shank 'm15 of this pull-handle is provided with a shoulder mm. The shank slides through a slit m19 in the edge of the floor A. For the sake of permanency and of accuracy of operation the slit is made in a flat piece of metal m18.

The vertical bat-post N is preferably round and tapering larger toward its top for the purpose of deflecting the ball toward the table. It is fixed to one end of a base-strip n. The lneans of attachment of the bat-post to the iloor A is a pivotal one, and such pivot a2 is intentionally located in that end of the base-strip n opposite where the post is affixed. The bat-post N is located at the batsmans stand B.

The mode in which this part of my invention operates is as follows: The player draws back the handle m17, and thereby draws forward the rod m13 and moves the lower end of lever M forward and the upper end thereof backward, at the same time stretching the spring 1117. Ile now moves the handle m17 laterally sufficiently for the shoulder m1 to catch over the edge of the plate m18. Having done this, the pitching device is set for action. Avery elastic ball, as Il, preferably of rubber, is placed inthe basket 'la' m m2 m2 m20 of the lever. The bat or post N is now set, as desircd, viz: Vhen the bat is set, as shown in Fig. l, the ball when discharged from lever M will strike the post directly in front, and will by its elasticity be repelled from the bat and will bound back in the direct-ion of the lever M. Should the bat be moved toward the right-that is, toward the right hand of the batslnan as he faces the piteher-theball upon striking the post will be deflected toward the left side of the field, and in case it strikes the left fence F will be again deflected, and in many cases it will again strike the fence and be deflected, and so on, till its velocity is spent.

The dotted lines ly 1/ of Fig. 1 illustrate the course of the ball rebounding from the batpost when the batter has been set a little to the left of the straight line joining the ballthrowing lever to the catcher-s stand C. The distance the bat is turned toward the left will control the-direction of the reflection of the ball from the bat, and in case it reaches the fence will also control the direction of its reflection therefrom. The bat maybe turned toward the right, and in this case also the direction of the rebound from the bat and also from the felice, in case the ball strikes the latter, will be determined by the distance the center of the bat N is moved out of the vertical plane drawn passing through the center of the cup of the lever and the center of the catchers stand C, located, as usual, behind the batsmans stand. l

It may be here remarked that the friction between the base n of the bat and thc surface of the floor A is, if the base n is well screwed down, sufficient to retain the bat in any position in which it may be set.

To discharge the ball from the lever M, the operator moves the handle on laterally, thereby releasing the shoulder mi from the edge of plate mi, whereupon the spring, no longer meeting with a resistance from the handle, rapidly draws the lower end of lever M toward post m8 and as rapidly moves the upper end of this lever and its cup containing the ball toward the bat. Vhen the lever M strikes the forward edge mi* of the slit m7, its forward movement is suddenly and completely arrested. At the same time the ball, from the impetus communicated to it, flies forward toward the bat and, striking the same, rebounds in the directions aforementioned,

according to the position in which the bat is I set.

D indicates the diamond with the bases, as

. follows:

1B indicates first base; 2B, the second base; 3B, the third base, and HB the home base.

'Each base and also each position of the outfielders is surrounded by a circle, the use of which is explained in the direction for playing the game.

lBM is the position of the first-base man, QBM that of second-base man, and SBM that of third-base man.

ST indicates the position of short-stop, RF that of the right-fielder, CF that of the center-fielder, and the position of left-fielder is indicated by the letters L F.

The foul-flags are duly located, and aro indicated by the letters F F.

In the floor A of the field are concave dcpressions,preferably of ahemispherical shape, termed pockets, and respectively indicated for the purposes of this description by the following letters, viz., lBRP is the firstbasc-run pocket. BRP is the second-baserun pocket. 3BRP is the third-baserun pocket. lHRl is one of the home-run pockets, and HRP is another home-run pocket.

The game is played substantially as follows: There are two sets of men, viz., players-nine on each side-and one figure to rcpresent the umpire. These men are small movable pieces, and are preferably cach formed in the figure, and a ball-player represented by a ball costume. One of these sets of nine men is distinguished from the other set of nine by a suitable mark or indication, preferably by a different costume or by dif- IOO IIO

ference in the color of their costume. A scorecard should be provided to keep the score. The game may be played in either five, seven, or nine innings. Three persons may participate in the game. One of these is to take charge of one nine and the other is to takeV charge of the other nine. The third person is to act as umpire and'decide as to'all doubtful plays. The person whose side is in the field shall control the trigger-that is, the ball-throwing lever M and the handle m17 and the operation thereof. The person whose side is at the bat shall have the right to move, viz., adjust the position of the bat if he desires.

I will now describe an illustrative instance of the mode in which the game is played. The two persons, as A and B, Who are to play the game, choose their respective nines or sides, and draw lots for the first innings at the bat. If A win, B will place his men in their positions in the field. The gure of the pitcher is placed by B beside the pitching mechanism. A will place his batter in position at the side of the bat N, the bat being located on the home-base. All being ready, the umpire will say, Play ball. B will draw back lever M in position for throwing the ball and will set the lever in this position by means of the handle m17, as hereinbefore described, and will place the ball in the cup of the lever. The handle being moved, the ball will be thrown against the bat and rebound out into the field. When the ball drops in the first base-socket or stops in the field outside of the foul-lines, it is count-ed as a first-base hit and a man of Bs nine is placed on said base. A second-base hit is counted when the ball drops in the second-base pocket, and a third-base hit When it drops into the third-base pocket.'

A ho1ne-run is counted when the ball drops into either of the home-run pockets. During the progress of the game the out-fielders are duly placed on their respective circles, and each baseman is placed a little to the side of his respective base, just outside the circle thereof.

As to outs and foulsz When the ball touches a fielder or stops Within a circle of a base, or within the circle of an out-fielders position, the batter is out by that fielder.

The ball touching or stopping Within the circle of any out-fielder will lbe an out on a flyball. If the ball crosses one base or circle and stops, on another, then if men of Bs side are on these bases it is counted a double play and both men are out. Should a man of Bs side be on the first base and the ball, for example, crosses the second-base circle and rests on the circle of first base, the runner is out by the first-base man assisted by second-base man,termed an assist in the nomenclature on the score-card. If the ball touches the batter, it is called one ball, and..four such balls give the batter his first base. If the ball stops inside of the foul-lines it is a foulball.

If the bases be each respectively occupied or full by a respective man of Bs side when another 'hit Vis made, themen are advanced each one base, the batter taking the first base, and the man on the third base coming home and completing his run. A home-run clears all the bases. out. The nine of B at the bat Will then take the field, and the nine of A, heretofore in the field, will take their turn at the bat, subject to the rules heretofore mentioned. Thus thegame proceeds, the two nines successively and alternately being at the bat and 'in theV field, as is the case in the present common and well-known game of base-ball. At the close of the game the nine having made the most runs are the winners of the game.

Vhile the various features o'f my invention are preferably employed together, one or more of said features may be employed without the remainder, and,in so far as applicable, one or more of said features may be employed in connection with games different from the one herein specifically described.

What I claim asnew and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

l. The ball-throwing lever provided with the cup or basket and the bat having the laterally-extended base n', pivoted to the floor out of the vertical center of the vertical post 0f the bat, this extended base being in frictional contact with the oor for enabling the Three men out puts the side bat to retain a given position, in which it has been placed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The lever M, having the ball-cup consisting of ridges m m and ridges m2 m2, this lever M being pivoted to the game-board, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The lever M, pivoted to the game-board and having the ball-cup consisting of ridges fm. m and ridges fm? m2, the two latter ridges being united by the arch m20, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The lever M, having the ball-cup, and consisting of the main shank, Whose upper end forms a ridge m', the shank or an eXten-' sion thereof being thence bent up, forming a ridge or wall m2, and th en across', forming ridge m20, and then down, forming a second ridge or wallmz, and then parallel to the first ridge m', and forming a second ridge m', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The pivoted lever M, and spring and post for holding thev spring when strained, and draft-rod vand the handle provided with shoulder or detent 911,1,and stationary detent for engaging said detent on the handle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The pivoted cup-lever M, pivoted to support m6, and spring m7, attached to post m8 and to said lever, and draft-rod with setting device, and plate m, fixed on the floor and having said post m8 and lever-pivot support' `rm6fixed thereto and provided with slot m7,y in which said lever is located, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

' 7 The ball-throwing lever located in the IOO IIO

diamond of bases, mentioned, and the batpost located opposite to the said lever and the eatchers stand, the bat-post being' located bet-Ween 111e ballthrowingv lever and the Catcher, and having base and pivot, substantially as described, for adjustment of the bat to the right or left ot a straight line drawn from the ball-throwing lever to the eatehers stand, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

S. The combination ot' a gaine-board having a ridge around the saine and the lever M moving' in a vertical plane and havin its fulcrum pivoted at a point between its upper ou pshaped end for the reception of the ball and the lower end, whereto the Connection '2i/l is attached in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the game-board for throwin` the ball above and clear of the said board or table until by lgravity it has reached said board or the ridge around the latter, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

0. In a gaine, the combination of the gaineboard, pockets therein, stations thereon pro vided with circles, diamond marked on said board,ball-throwing lever pivoted t0 the game board, bat having base and pivot, enabling said bat to be adjusted to the right or the lef t, and separate ball, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l0. The combination of the ball-throwing,` lever M and the bat-post N, placed opposite thereto and tapering smaller freni the top downward, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

HENRY SIIRIMPTON.

Attest:

F. W. BRowNE, (l. A. H. Pnnnn. 

